‘Backlog fee’ Proposed to Expedite Outstanding Pharma Licences

But it turns out there is a massive backlog in official Government approvals for new drugs and technologies. This is inexcusable. We need a regulator that works effectively in the interests of the country – how did we get so slack?

A proposal is currently being considered to apply a “backlog fee” to ensure that long-outstanding licencing of drugs for cancer and heart disease gets expedited.

I have two questions: 1. Who will get the tender to boost the capacity to issue licences? and 2. Will pharma companies – which pay the backlog fee to obtain approval for new drugs – pass the fee onto the consumer at the pharmacy check-out point?